US10390118B2 - Sound collecting device - Google Patents
Sound collecting device Download PDFInfo
- Publication number
- US10390118B2 US10390118B2 US16/014,531 US201816014531A US10390118B2 US 10390118 B2 US10390118 B2 US 10390118B2 US 201816014531 A US201816014531 A US 201816014531A US 10390118 B2 US10390118 B2 US 10390118B2
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- US
- United States
- Prior art keywords
- microphone array
- microphone
- unit
- frame member
- sound collecting
- Prior art date
- Legal status (The legal status is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the status listed.)
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Classifications
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- H—ELECTRICITY
- H04—ELECTRIC COMMUNICATION TECHNIQUE
- H04R—LOUDSPEAKERS, MICROPHONES, GRAMOPHONE PICK-UPS OR LIKE ACOUSTIC ELECTROMECHANICAL TRANSDUCERS; DEAF-AID SETS; PUBLIC ADDRESS SYSTEMS
- H04R1/00—Details of transducers, loudspeakers or microphones
- H04R1/02—Casings; Cabinets ; Supports therefor; Mountings therein
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- H—ELECTRICITY
- H04—ELECTRIC COMMUNICATION TECHNIQUE
- H04R—LOUDSPEAKERS, MICROPHONES, GRAMOPHONE PICK-UPS OR LIKE ACOUSTIC ELECTROMECHANICAL TRANSDUCERS; DEAF-AID SETS; PUBLIC ADDRESS SYSTEMS
- H04R1/00—Details of transducers, loudspeakers or microphones
- H04R1/08—Mouthpieces; Microphones; Attachments therefor
- H04R1/083—Special constructions of mouthpieces
- H04R1/086—Protective screens, e.g. all weather or wind screens
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- H—ELECTRICITY
- H04—ELECTRIC COMMUNICATION TECHNIQUE
- H04R—LOUDSPEAKERS, MICROPHONES, GRAMOPHONE PICK-UPS OR LIKE ACOUSTIC ELECTROMECHANICAL TRANSDUCERS; DEAF-AID SETS; PUBLIC ADDRESS SYSTEMS
- H04R1/00—Details of transducers, loudspeakers or microphones
- H04R1/20—Arrangements for obtaining desired frequency or directional characteristics
- H04R1/32—Arrangements for obtaining desired frequency or directional characteristics for obtaining desired directional characteristic only
- H04R1/40—Arrangements for obtaining desired frequency or directional characteristics for obtaining desired directional characteristic only by combining a number of identical transducers
- H04R1/406—Arrangements for obtaining desired frequency or directional characteristics for obtaining desired directional characteristic only by combining a number of identical transducers microphones
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- H—ELECTRICITY
- H04—ELECTRIC COMMUNICATION TECHNIQUE
- H04R—LOUDSPEAKERS, MICROPHONES, GRAMOPHONE PICK-UPS OR LIKE ACOUSTIC ELECTROMECHANICAL TRANSDUCERS; DEAF-AID SETS; PUBLIC ADDRESS SYSTEMS
- H04R1/00—Details of transducers, loudspeakers or microphones
- H04R1/08—Mouthpieces; Microphones; Attachments therefor
- H04R1/083—Special constructions of mouthpieces
-
- H—ELECTRICITY
- H04—ELECTRIC COMMUNICATION TECHNIQUE
- H04S—STEREOPHONIC SYSTEMS
- H04S2400/00—Details of stereophonic systems covered by H04S but not provided for in its groups
- H04S2400/15—Aspects of sound capture and related signal processing for recording or reproduction
-
- H—ELECTRICITY
- H04—ELECTRIC COMMUNICATION TECHNIQUE
- H04S—STEREOPHONIC SYSTEMS
- H04S2420/00—Techniques used stereophonic systems covered by H04S but not provided for in its groups
- H04S2420/11—Application of ambisonics in stereophonic audio systems
Definitions
- the present invention relates to a sound collecting device that includes a plurality of microphone units, and more particularly to a sound collecting device in which respective directional axes of microphone units are directed outward from the faces of a regular polyhedron.
- An Ambisonics microphone has been proposed in which a plurality of microphone units is disposed in a manner where the respective directional axes thereof are directed outward from the faces of a regular polyhedron so as to collect stereophonic sound.
- a unidirectional microphone unit is disposed on each face of a regular tetrahedron.
- This Ambisonics microphone is shown in FIG. 3C of JP 2016-538790 A.
- the fixing member constituting the microphone array is attached to an end of a mount member via a bifurcated connecting member.
- Patent Document 2 Japanese Patent No. 5304293
- the sound collecting device disclosed in Japanese Patent No. 5304293 includes three microphone units disposed on a base member such that the respective directional axes thereof are in the same plane.
- the three microphone units are supported, in a floating state, by elastic bodies made of rubber attached to three support posts standing on the base member.
- the respective microphone units need to be disposed in a manner where the respective directional axes of the microphone units are properly directed outward from the faces of a regular polyhedron.
- the respective directional axes of the microphone units are directed upward in the left front direction (Lf), downward in the left rear direction (Lb), downward in the right front direction (Rf), and upward in the right rear direction (Rb).
- the four directional axes need to be accurately positioned, with great care, between an outer frame member supporting the microphone array and the microphone array.
- an object of the present invention is to provide a sound collecting device with the following configuration.
- a microphone array constituting an Ambisonics microphone is supported by a frame member disposed outside so as to surround the microphone array with elastic bodies provided between the microphone array and the frame member, the directional axis of each microphone unit can be accurately positioned, and the microphone array is floatingly supported by the frame member in a balanced state.
- the sound collecting device includes a microphone array having unit holders each of which a microphone unit is attached to, the unit holders having connecting portions formed on the holder, the connecting portions being connected to each other such that a directional axis of each microphone unit is directed outward from a face of a regular polyhedron; a frame member disposed outside the microphone array so as to surround the microphone array; and an even number of ring-shaped elastic bodies that connect a part of the frame member and the unit holders connected to each other at a plurality of positions therebetween such that the microphone array is positioned at a central portion of the frame member, wherein a half of the even number of elastic bodies are connected twistedly in one direction from the frame member toward the microphone array, and the other half of the elastic bodies are connected twistedly in an opposite direction from the frame member toward the microphone array.
- the ring-shaped elastic bodies are disposed in a manner to straddle the connecting portions formed on the unit holders, and disposed on the unit holder side as a result that the connecting portions are connected to each other.
- the respective elastic bodies adjacent to each other in a circumferential direction are twisted in directions opposite to each other.
- the ring-shaped elastic bodies are O-rings each formed of a rubber material.
- Each of the O-rings connects each connecting portion that connects the unit holders to each other and each locking portion formed on an inner peripheral edge of the frame member, in a circular manner, such that the microphone array is positioned at the central portion of the frame member.
- the connecting portions formed on the unit holder are placed at positions with equal intervals along the circumferential direction of the unit holder.
- the frame member is formed in a flat shape, and has an arrangement space for the microphone array, formed in a quadrilateral shape along the inner peripheral edge, and that the locking portions of the O-rings are formed at respective longitudinal central positions of the quadrilateral inner peripheral edge.
- both sides of the flat-shaped frame member are each provided with a windscreen capable of covering the microphone array without coming into contact therewith.
- the microphone array constitutes an Ambisonics microphone, in which the directional axis of each microphone unit is directed outward from a face of a regular polyhedron, and is connected to the frame member surrounding the microphone array through a plurality of the elastic bodies.
- the respective microphone units are evenly disposed in terms of a distance and an angle with respect to the frame member.
- FIG. 1 is a front view of a sound collecting device according to the present invention in a state where a windscreen provided at the front side has been detached;
- FIG. 2A is a perspective view of an upper unit holder among unit holders to which microphone units are respectively attached;
- FIG. 2B is a perspective view of a lower unit holder among the unit holders to which the microphone units are respectively attached;
- FIG. 3 is a perspective view of connecting portions formed on the unit holders, which have been connected to each other;
- FIG. 4 is a perspective view of a microphone array formed by attaching microphone units to the respective unit holders shown in FIG. 3 .
- FIG. 1 shows the sound collecting device according to the present invention in a state in which a windscreen provided at the front side has been detached.
- the sound collecting device functions as an Ambisonics microphone.
- the respective directional axes of microphone units are directed outward from the respective faces of a regular tetrahedron.
- FIGS. 2A and 2B show an external-appearance configuration of a unit holder to which each microphone unit to be attached.
- FIG. 2A shows an upper unit holder
- FIG. 2B shows a lower unit holder.
- the upper unit holder 1 A shown in FIG. 2A is formed in a ring shape.
- One wedge-shaped protrusion 2 a is formed on a part of its outer peripheral surface so as to indicate that it is the upper unit holder.
- a stopper 3 for locking the back of the microphone unit is formed in a ring shape toward the inner peripheral surface.
- connecting portions 4 a and 4 b are formed to direct outward.
- Female threads 5 a are formed in two of the connecting portions 4 a , having a larger thickness.
- the respective connecting portions 4 a and 4 b are placed on the upper unit holder 1 A at equal intervals along the circumferential direction of the upper unit holder 1 A. That is, in the present embodiment, the connecting portions 4 a and 4 b are placed at intervals of 120 degrees along the circumferential direction of the upper unit holder 1 A.
- Two wedge-shaped protrusions 2 b are formed on a part of the outer peripheral surface of a lower unit holder 1 B shown in FIG. 2B so as to indicate that it is the lower unit holder.
- the female thread 5 a is formed in the one connecting portion 4 a having a larger thickness.
- the insertion hole 5 b for a screw is formed in each of the two connecting portions 4 b having a smaller thickness.
- the other configuration of the lower unit holder 1 B is similar to that of the upper unit holder 1 A shown in FIG. 2A . Therefore, description thereof will be omitted.
- FIG. 3 shows the two upper unit holders 1 A shown in FIG. 2A and the two lower unit holders 1 B shown in FIG. 2B , which have been combined with each other. That is, FIG. 3 shows the connecting portions formed on the respective unit holders, which have been connected to each other by screws.
- a screw denoted by the reference numeral 7 is first inserted into the connecting portion 4 b , having a smaller thickness, of the unit holder, and screwed toward the female thread 5 a of the connecting portion 4 a , having a larger thickness, of another unit holder so as to be fastened.
- an assembly of the unit holders shown in FIG. 3 is formed while the connecting portion 4 b , having a smaller thickness, of each unit holder is fastened, with the screw 7 , to the connecting portion 4 a , having a larger thickness, of another unit holder.
- FIG. 4 shows a configuration of the unit holders to each of which a unidirectional condenser microphone unit 9 has been attached.
- the condenser microphone unit 9 is formed of a cylindrical unit case having an outer shell made of aluminum alloy, for example.
- the condenser microphone unit 9 is attached to each unit holder such that the directional axis faces outward.
- the respective microphone units 9 of the microphone array 11 are disposed such that the respective directional axes of the microphone units 9 are directed outward from the respective faces of the regular tetrahedron. Therefore, the microphone array 11 functions as an Ambisonics microphone.
- the directional axes of the respective microphone units 9 attached to the two upper unit holders 1 A are directed upward in the left front direction (Lf) and upward in the right rear direction (Rb).
- the respective directional axes of the respective microphone units 9 attached to the two lower unit holders 1 B are directed downward in the left rear direction (Lb) and downward in the right front direction (Rf).
- FIG. 1 shows the entire configuration of the microphone array 11 , shown in FIG. 4 , attached with elastic bodies 13 to the frame member 12 in a floating state.
- the frame member 12 is formed of a resin material in a flat shape. However, it can also be formed of a metal material.
- a quadrilateral shape is formed by the inner peripheral edges of the frame member 12 .
- a central portion of the quadrilateral shape formed by the inner peripheral edges of the frame member 12 becomes an arrangement space for the microphone array 11 .
- a locking portion 14 of the elastic body 13 is formed in an arc shape along the longitudinal direction.
- ring-shaped elastic bodies for example, O-rings
- the elastic body 13 Four identical ring-shaped elastic bodies (for example, O-rings) made of a rubber material are used as the elastic body 13 .
- the O-rings 13 are passed through so as to straddle the connecting portions 4 a and 4 b of the unit holders and attached to in advance.
- the connecting portions are connected to each other in this manner; whereby the O-rings 13 are disposed on the unit holder side.
- each O-ring 13 circularly couples the unit holder and corresponding locking portion 14 of the frame member 12 .
- the microphone array 11 is positioned at the central portion of the frame member 12 .
- the frame member 12 in a floating state supports each O-ring 13 buffers vibration from the frame member 12 , and the microphone array 11 .
- the four O-rings 13 adjacent to each other in the circumferential direction are twisted in directions opposite to each other along the circumferential direction.
- the O-ring 13 connecting an upper frame body 12 a and the microphone array 11 as shown in FIG. 1 is twisted slightly to the left from the frame member 12 toward the microphone array 11 .
- the O-ring 13 connecting a right frame body 12 b and the microphone array 11 is twisted slightly to the right from the frame member 12 toward the microphone array 11 .
- the O-ring 13 connecting a lower frame body 12 c and the microphone array 11 is twisted slightly to the left from the frame member 12 toward the microphone array 11 .
- the O-ring 13 connecting a left frame body 12 d and the microphone array 11 is twisted slightly to the right from the frame member 12 toward the microphone array 11 .
- the microphone array 11 is supported in a balanced state with respect to the frame member 12 .
- the total weight of the microphone array 11 and the total elastic force of the four O-rings 13 determine the resonance frequency of the microphone array 11 .
- setting the resonance frequency to a low value reduces the frequency of noise generated by vibration. That is, the frequency bandwidth in which sound can be collected without being affected by the vibration noise is widened in the low-frequency side. For this reason, it is necessary to appropriately select the hardness of a rubber material forming the O-ring, a ring diameter, and a wire diameter in accordance with the weight of the microphone array 11 .
- abutting portions 15 are formed on both outer sides of the locking portions 14 .
- the abutting portion 15 functions to position a pair of windscreens 16 having hemispherical outer shells.
- each windscreen 16 is formed in a bowl shape, and has a space portion 16 a .
- the pair of windscreens 16 is combined to form a spherical shape, with the abutting portions 15 of the frame member 12 being positioned at the center, the microphone array 11 is housed in the space portion 16 a without coming into contact with the windscreens 16 .
- the sound collecting device according to the present invention is put to practical use with the windscreens 16 and the frame member 12 being covered with a microphone case made of, for example, punched metal sheet.
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- Physics & Mathematics (AREA)
- Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
- Acoustics & Sound (AREA)
- Signal Processing (AREA)
- Health & Medical Sciences (AREA)
- Otolaryngology (AREA)
- Details Of Audible-Bandwidth Transducers (AREA)
- Obtaining Desirable Characteristics In Audible-Bandwidth Transducers (AREA)
Abstract
Description
Claims (8)
Applications Claiming Priority (2)
Application Number | Priority Date | Filing Date | Title |
---|---|---|---|
JP2017131683A JP6915855B2 (en) | 2017-07-05 | 2017-07-05 | Sound collector |
JP2017-131683 | 2017-07-05 |
Publications (2)
Publication Number | Publication Date |
---|---|
US20190014399A1 US20190014399A1 (en) | 2019-01-10 |
US10390118B2 true US10390118B2 (en) | 2019-08-20 |
Family
ID=64903586
Family Applications (1)
Application Number | Title | Priority Date | Filing Date |
---|---|---|---|
US16/014,531 Active US10390118B2 (en) | 2017-07-05 | 2018-06-21 | Sound collecting device |
Country Status (2)
Country | Link |
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US (1) | US10390118B2 (en) |
JP (1) | JP6915855B2 (en) |
Families Citing this family (4)
Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
---|---|---|---|---|
WO2018133056A1 (en) * | 2017-01-22 | 2018-07-26 | 北京时代拓灵科技有限公司 | Method and apparatus for locating sound source |
EP3525482B1 (en) * | 2018-02-09 | 2023-07-12 | Dolby Laboratories Licensing Corporation | Microphone array for capturing audio sound field |
US10785563B1 (en) * | 2019-03-15 | 2020-09-22 | Hitachi, Ltd. | Omni-directional audible noise source localization apparatus |
WO2022094930A1 (en) * | 2020-11-06 | 2022-05-12 | 广州视源电子科技股份有限公司 | Microphone device |
Citations (4)
Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
---|---|---|---|---|
US6549802B2 (en) * | 2001-06-07 | 2003-04-15 | Varian Medical Systems, Inc. | Seed localization system and method in ultrasound by fluoroscopy and ultrasound fusion |
JP5304293B2 (en) | 2009-02-10 | 2013-10-02 | ヤマハ株式会社 | Sound collector |
US20150054913A1 (en) | 2013-08-21 | 2015-02-26 | Jaunt Inc. | Image stitching |
US9294838B2 (en) * | 2012-12-20 | 2016-03-22 | Harman Becker Automotive Systems Gmbh | Sound capture system |
-
2017
- 2017-07-05 JP JP2017131683A patent/JP6915855B2/en active Active
-
2018
- 2018-06-21 US US16/014,531 patent/US10390118B2/en active Active
Patent Citations (6)
Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
---|---|---|---|---|
US6549802B2 (en) * | 2001-06-07 | 2003-04-15 | Varian Medical Systems, Inc. | Seed localization system and method in ultrasound by fluoroscopy and ultrasound fusion |
JP5304293B2 (en) | 2009-02-10 | 2013-10-02 | ヤマハ株式会社 | Sound collector |
US9294838B2 (en) * | 2012-12-20 | 2016-03-22 | Harman Becker Automotive Systems Gmbh | Sound capture system |
US20150054913A1 (en) | 2013-08-21 | 2015-02-26 | Jaunt Inc. | Image stitching |
US9451162B2 (en) * | 2013-08-21 | 2016-09-20 | Jaunt Inc. | Camera array including camera modules |
JP2016538790A (en) | 2013-08-21 | 2016-12-08 | ジョーント・インコーポレイテッドJaunt Inc. | Camera array including camera module |
Also Published As
Publication number | Publication date |
---|---|
JP2019016870A (en) | 2019-01-31 |
JP6915855B2 (en) | 2021-08-04 |
US20190014399A1 (en) | 2019-01-10 |
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Owner name: AUDIO-TECHNICA CORPORATION, JAPAN Free format text: ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNORS INTEREST;ASSIGNOR:SANO, YUSUKE;REEL/FRAME:046165/0864 Effective date: 20180618 |
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